Norfolk Days 4 and 5

The 4th day of Norfolk birding was the first one where I could have a full day out birding with no sleet storms. There were quite a lot of birds on journey through Norfolk, including Kestrel, Red Kite and Buzzard. The first stop was Flitcham, where I did not see much, though there were a lot of Pheasants. A large flock of Chaffinches in one of the fields showed how good the place was for wildlife though. 

Parrot Crossbill - Very Cropped photo

 We then went to Chosely, where there was a Red Kite, but no Corn Buntings, and not even any Yellowhammers. So after a morning without many birds, we headed to Titchwell. The water levels were too high for a lot of waders, but there were a lot of Brent Geese around. There were also Redshanks and Ringed and Grey Plovers. The sea had a lot of birds, including 2 male Common Scoters and a Diver species in the distance, which I didn't manage to identify. It didn't look as pale as a Red-throated diver, but also not as heavy as a Great-northern, making me think it was a Black-throated, but it was too distant to confirm. A flock of Long-tailed Ducks gave good views as they flew in and landed on the sea.

The final stop of the day was at Holme, where I did another seawatch. The sea had hardly any birds that weren't gulls, but I did manage to see a lot of Guillemots passing. A Tawny Owl hooted from the trees, which they apparently do regularly in the afternoon at Holme.

I walked back on the path behind the trees and flushed a Woodcock that was on a slope. The day ended with a deer seen through the trees that was probably a Muntjac. 

Otter

The final day was spent as a travelling day back to London, but we managed to fit in a trip to Thetford Forest on the way. First we stopped at Santon Downham, where a group of people were watching an Otter. I walked over, and saw a group of at least three, including one which was making a lot of noise. A pair of Siskins flew over and a Kingfisher flew down the River. As I got back in the car, I saw a Marsh Tit flying around by the roadside. 

The next stop was St Helen's picnic site near Santon Downham, to look for the Parrot Crossbills that had been around. I wasn't expecting much as they hadn't been reported for a few days, and as I walked through the area where they had been seen, I saw nothing. I was beginning to think the stop was pointless when a flock of about 12 birds flew towards me, calling. I had never heard that call in my life, so it was definitely worth seeing what the birds were! The birds landed in a nearby tree, and I put my scope up to them, and I was amazed to see a flock of Parrot Crossbills! I got good views as they sat in the tree, before flying off. One of the best birds I have seen all year!

Parrot crossbill

I was delighted because I had finally managed to see a flock of Parrot Crossbills, which probably wont be seen in Britain in these numbers for years.

Parrot Crossbill